All you have to do is send along your correspondence (with your name and hometown) to bpoliquin@syracuse.com. Do that, and more likely than not your words will see the digital light of day in this thin patch of cyberspace.

So have at it . . .

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Having followed Syracuse University athletics for the past 45 years, I'm getting a distinct feeling that the love between the fans and the coaching staff is at an all-time low.

With Doug Marrone opting out first, I believe Jim Boeheim will soon follow. However, I don't think Jim is finished coaching major-college basketball. There are several points that I’d like to share.

I think the move to the Atlantic Coast Conference put the basketball program -- Boeheim's program -- in jeopardy. Daryl Gross, the Orange athletic director, has taken the football program to a better place, but it has come at the expense of losing the identity of what the basketball program has created for SU.

Getting the football program to higher ground was the goal of Dr. Gross, and it has been achieved. In the process, Syracuse has lost its rebuilder (Marrone), and if I'm correct, will soon lose its empire builder (Boeheim).

I'm looking at that “new” Big East Basketball Conference that will include the kinds of schools with which SU once shared an identity: Basketball-centric, without self-important ADs who spend most of their days fund-raising the next bright idea.

Most of the schools in that “new” Big East will have an established head coach and recruiting bases already in place. This will be a strong basketball league and is built to last, as well as turn an annual profit.

There are two schools, though, that are in need of coaching upgrades, and since both are deep in tradition I feel that they may be attractive (perish the thought) to one James Arthur Boeheim. One is DePaul, led by Oliver Purnell; the other, more enticing, program is Providence, fathered by Dave Gavitt and presently coached by Ed Cooley.

Through the years, the Friars have had a meaningful coaching relationship with the Orange program. Rick Pitino, Tim Welsh and Tim O'Neill gravitated to Providence after cutting their teeth at Boeheim’s knee.

What was once an unthinkable idea is now starting to formulate and the vision makes perfect sense. Whatever financial package is required, I think the conference's TV contract will allow Providence to compete for Boeheim's services while offering a more attractive situation, and possibly, a post-coaching position as athletic director.

-- Harvey Hochberg
Delray Beach, Fla.

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Dion Waiters still bleeds Orange, which is good since he is an alumnus of Syracuse University. Also, Syracuse University is his alma mater.

You merely have to attend, not graduate from, a school to become an alumnus and have the school be your alma mater.

In your recent commentary, you did point out several times Dion’s lack of graduating (or, perhaps, even of studying with your “student/athlete” in quotes), as if that should be some kind of scarlet letter -- as it is with Jim Brown, Bob Costas, Vanessa Williams and many other non-graduates whom we like to say are alumni of our alma mater.

-- John Wesche
Syracuse, N.Y.

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I just read your commentary on Dion Waiters, which I liked, but something held me back from truly enjoying it and I wanted to write you about. I don't understand the need to passive aggressively rip on Dion for leaving school early. I do not know if this was your intention or not, but that is how the article read to me at certain points.

“Man, you’ve got to be consistent,” Dion said of the Orange, which he'd fled after two seasons to become the fourth overall choice in last June’s NBA Draft.

This smacks of saying Waiters deserted his team and is a traitor, which I think is not fair. Dion, much like Carmelo Anthony, HAD to leave Syracuse University when he did. It was clear during his sophomore season that Dion was NBA-ready, and that is likely what he went to college for -- to become NBA-ready.

It is not unlike a Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates dropping out of college to pursue their (lucrative) careers. Once you have everything you need to move forward, you should do just that, or risk losing your chance to cash in on your talents.

Anyway, I really enjoyed the idea of the article. I would love to see more articles like this, maybe from athletes across the SU sports spectrum. What does a Chandler Jones think about all of the changes in Orange football? Maybe a Keith Bulluck or a Donovan McNabb, as well.

-- Tim Doolittle
Manlius, N.Y.

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I enjoyed your commentary on Jim Boeheim and his post-game press conference.

You display great maturity, as would be expected, in dealing with him. Can you imagine the level of frustration he must feel with the loss of the game and then having to put on a “happy face” and listen to some of the questions he must field?

“It’s only fair that we provide Jim his mirth. He has, after all, spent so much of these past 37 years entertaining us.”

Jeez, Bud, you are one lame hack.

Jim Boeheim’s arrogant, petulant and autocratic behavior isn’t entertaining and poorly represents the team, Syracuse University and the community. Your defense of it brings into question your competence as a sportswriter.

-- Brian T. FitzGerald
Watertown, N.Y.

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C’mon, Bud. You know Jim Boeheim better than that. He wasn’t surly out there in Milwaukee; he was entertaining.

When that kid who wasn’t even born when Boeheim took the 1987 team to the Final Four asked a coaching question, he got the answer he deserved. And Boeheim’s explanation about leadership was perfect.

Don’t blame him for the “any more coaches?” or “Pulitzer” comments at the end. You guys don’t ask any questions. How many questions were asked? Three? Boeheim is not one to just sit there and say nothing.

You purposely don’t so that he’ll go off on one of his tangents. You want to beat him up for his response to that Daily Orange reporter, but you don’t give him credit for his ad-lib about the Big East Conference television deal.

I was in the room after the Georgetown game. You never asked a question. You didn’t ask one in Milwaukee, either. Admit it. You go to be entertained. It’s like watching the Daytona 500 to watch the good ol’ boys send Danica into a wall.

-- Charlie J.
Washington, D.C.
(full name withheld upon request)

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I read your recent commentary about Jim Boeheim’s press conferences and as a Syracuse University alum (1976) who has attended luncheons and other functions Boeheim has spoken at, he hasn't really changed except to get a little bolder and nastier in his statements.

I believe what Boeheim doesn't understand is that every time he goes to a podium he is also representing SU, and lately the statements he has made are not representing Syracuse in the right light.

I believe, accomplishments aside, he has become an embarrassment to SU students and alumni, and to the Central New York community. If I were to advise Boeheim on one thing, it would be to remind him that he represents something bigger then himself, and if he can't tone it down, he should step down.

I wish your commentary would have addressed the fact that he is representing Syracuse University, and though Boeheim is only being Boeheim, he needs to represent our university properly.

-- Michael E. Diamond
Syracuse University, Class of 1976

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It’s not just a great sports movie; it’s simply a great movie (and book, for that matter).

Most people will not think of it as a sports movie, but I do. After seeing the movie I, and many others, where moved to pick up the sport and continue it for a lifetime. Now that’s saying something, considering I played college sports and had no interest in this sport whatsoever.

That’s a powerful movie. You might even say an American classic. And, if you haven't guessed by now . . . “A River Runs Thought It.”

Thanks for all the good work.

-- Jon Bates
Fayetteville, N.Y.

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What I really enjoyed about the question(s) about Jim Brown was the reader/writer's comment about sneaking into Archbold Stadium as a kid.

My father told me the same thing. Now, what made this remarkable was that he’d lost a leg at birth and spent his childhood on crutches. But no problem. As he described it, a mob of kids would storm the Irving Avenue gate and slip through the wrought-iron fencing that was a prominent part of the old stadium's regal look.

Architecture aside, I guess the place was pretty porous.

Thanks for the article.

-- Jim Carey
Syracuse, N.Y.

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Here is the weekly “schedule of events” in Bud Poliquin’s corner of syracuse.com:

MONDAY -- By 8 a.m.: The daily column/commentary. By 11:30 a.m.: “How’d I Do?” By 6 p.m.: “Ask Me Anything” by submitting questions (to which I’ll give answers) on any sports-related topic to bpoliquin@syracuse.com. (Please include name and hometown.)

TUESDAY -- By 8 a.m.: The daily column/commentary. By 11:30 a.m.: “Coach’s Corner,” wherein readers can submit questions to any coach at any level in Central New York (and answers will be posted) to bpoliquin@syracuse.com. (Please include name and hometown.) By 6 p.m.: “The Video Store.”

WEDNESDAY -- By 8 a.m.: The daily column/commentary. By 11:30 a.m.: “The List.” By 6 p.m.: “E-Mail Of The Week,” wherein readers can submit legitimate essays/open letters/observations for purposes of posting to bpoliquin@syracuse.com. (Please include name and hometown.)